Show Review- The Dillinger Escape Plan @ Beauty Bar June 4th, 2011

When I heard that The Dillinger Escape Plan were playing at Beauty Bar, the venue where the infamous Death From Above 1979 riot occurred, I could only laugh out loud. What the fuck were these people thinking? A Dillinger show is basically a riot in itself at any venue. Anyways, despite the possibility of another riot and fully preparing myself to get tasered, I knew the show would be well worth it. The band is on tour supporting Deftones and decided to play a Chaos in Tejas show after their set earlier in the night. They went on around 1:00 AM when the packed, humid tent was full of angry drunks growing restless with each second. Expecting a worn-out band from playing a set earlier in the night, I was relieved to find that it was the complete opposite. Dillinger was in full force as always, maybe even more since they were getting the opportunity to play an intimate show on such a large tour. Playing their unique style of chaotic hardcore infused with jazz breaks and catchy choruses, The Dillinger Escape Plan are one of those bands that only sound like themselves. It was funny watching people try to move to the beat because there are probably at least five different time signatures in every song. The musicianship of the guitarists on stage, especially Ben Wienman, left me in awe. Not only did they pull off all of the intricate compositions, but also did so while stage diving, getting hit with shit, and flailing around like dogs on adderall. They never missed a note the whole show. The new drummer that I had never seen before was tight and meticulous, nailing every obscure Dillinger part without difficulty or hesitation. 

Singer Greg Puciato had a very impressive vocal performance as he had just played a whole set a few hours earlier. Puciato’s scream sounded as powerful as ever while integrating well-delivered melodies that were rarely off pitch. He acted as a great front man, climbing over everything like he was in the jungle and jumping off the speakers into the sweaty audience. The band played a little bit of everything; including new songs I have never heard and very old classics that would make the crowd go insane instantly. The audience was downright riotous. Every few minutes a bewildered face would stumble from the crowd bleeding or throwing up. I loved how the audience was just as unrestricted as the music. There were less lame hardcore dance moves being “performed” and more people just getting into the music and losing their shit. At one point something was even lit on fire. I heard someone say it was an amp but I’m still not sure. Pungent smoke filled up the room while the band continued to pummel the audience with song after song of sporadic hardcore and eccentric song structure. The show ended with Greg Puciato grabbing the floor tom and running straight into the audience like a football player rushing a quarterback. The crowd proceeded to throw and bash the floor tom until everyone just decided it was time to leave. This is what shows should be like.

Set List (I Think): 

Farewell, Mona Lisa

The Mullet Burden

Panasonic Youth

Milk Lizard

Chinese Whispers

Weekend Sex Change

Room Full of Eyes

Sugar Coated Sour

Gold Teeth On A Bum

Widower

Fix Your Face

When Good Dogs Do Bad Things

Good Neighbor

Sunshine The Werewolf

43% Burnt